Special Fruit blueberries

Belgian importer Special Fruit last week kicked off its season for organic blueberries, which are produced by the company itself in Portugal.

In 2012, the company invested in a partnership with a grower of organic blueberries, Mirtisul, located in the Alentejo region, whose climate is ideal for growing berries.

Blueberries combine fantastic flavour with amazing health benefits. What’s more, research has shown that organic blueberries contain more fructose, which only enhance the flavour of these berries. A quality product, in other words.

According to marketing and communications coordinator Sarah Hellemans, Special Fruit believes in the development of the company’s organic segment in order to bolster its product range.

“Organic products are healthier for people and the environment,” she said, pointing to the additional fructose present in the organic product. “Currently the organic product range consists of various varieties of blueberries, including Sharp Blue, Misty, O’Neal, Georgia Gem and Star. The company hopes to further extend its range, in terms of availability and types of products.”

The season runs until mid-June, with volumes for the campaign reaching around 140 tonnes. “The company developed a special BerryFresh label for these berries, which emphasises the beneficial properties of organic berries as well as making the product even easier to recognise for health-conscious consumers,” said Hellemans.